If you are aiming for old IIMs such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, you will need to score above 99 percentile in CAT. For IIMs and other top-tier B-Schools in India, the CAT cutoff stays above 90 percentile. 

If you have a good profile, and 99+ CAT score, you can expect to get calls from old IIMs, XLRI, JBIMS, IIFT, FMS, etc.

Here are some of the things that you will realize after appearing for the CAT examination.

• Spend the first few minutes going over the papers before diving in. Browse through the problems and start with the ones that you know you can solve in one go.  CAT prioritizes solving not sequence.
• If you aren’t sure about an answer, leave it. Concentrate on other problems. You shouldn’t spend more than 2-3 minutes on a single problem. 
• Don’t use the elimination method, if you can solve the problem in less than 1 minute. Do rough work thoroughly. Don’t answer any questions, just by guessing. 
• There will be a few lengthy questions. Try to ignore these. Even CAT toppers don’t score the full marks. 

CAT doesn’t test your knowledge. The only thing matters are how much you score. So, try to attempt as many questions as you can correctly. 

Yes, it’s possible. If your basics are clear 4 months of preparation is more than enough to score 90 percentile in CAT.

• First, take a previous year's mock test. Evaluate which areas need more focus while preparing. 
• Be consistent with your preparation. Don’t leave your preparation for a few days at a stretch. 
• Take regular mocks to analyze your position and make the required changes in your strategy. 

While preparing, stay motivated and don’t let the zeal fade away.